Pa. lawmakers introduce gay marriage bill

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two state lawmakers say they are introducing a bill that would allow same-sex couples to get married legally in Pennsylvania.

Democratic state Reps. Brian Sims and Steve McCarter spoke about the new legislation on Thursday at Love Park in Philadelphia.

Sims says it's time to grant equal status to gays and lesbians in Pennsylvania. He says current laws are discriminatory and drive away business from the state.

Similar bills have gone nowhere in Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled Legislature.

Pennsylvania law defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. It is the only northeastern state that doesn't recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions.

Several lawsuits are pending in state and federal courts to challenge the statute, which also does not allow recognition of same-sex marriages performed legally in other jurisdictions.

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